Higuain scores to put Napoli into Cup semis

MILAN: Gonzalo Higuain pounced on an Inter Milan defensive error to hit an injury-time winner for Napoli to secure both a 1-0 win and a place for the holders in the Italian Cup semifinals on Wednesday.
Inter coach Roberto Mancini, who spent four success-laden seasons at the helm of the Nerazzurri from 2004-2008, had led Inter into four Cup finals, winning twice, in his previous spell in charge.
The match looked to be heading for extra-time but in the 93rd minute Algerian international Faouzi Gholam, in his first game for Napoli since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations, found Higuain in space down the left with a long throw-in.
It caught defender Andrea Ranocchia off guard and the Inter Milan captain could only look on as Higuain outpaced him before beating Juan Pablo Carrizo with a superbly-placed shot inside the far post.
Napoli will now meet Lazio in the two-legged semifinal with the winner meeting either Juventus or Fiorentina in the final.
Juventus beat Parma 1-0 last week to book their semifinal spot while AC Milan were ousted from the competition by Lazio after a 1-0 defeat.
Napoli won the fifth Italian Cup in their history last season with a 2-1 defeat of Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
However the club’s success, and the match, was overshadowed by violent incidents outside and inside the stadium.
One fan, Ciro Esposito, was shot in the chest and died on June 25 after being in a coma for two months.